Fluid impeller and turbine



y 2 1937- c. w. BROWN ET AL. 2,037,834

FLUID IMPELLER AND TURBINE I Filed May 23, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Zhwentor attorneys y 1937- c. w. BROWN ET AL 2,087,834

FLUID IMPELLER AND TURBINE Filed May 25, 1952 "2 Sheet s-Sheet 23nventor s GttornegS I Patented July 20, 1937 PATENT OFFICE" FLUIDIMPELLER AND TURBINE Chester W. Brown and Erwin F. Dosie,

Milwaukee, Wis.

Application May 23, 1932, Serial No. 612,928

19 Claims. This invention relates to improvements in fluid impellers andturbines. While the device here- 15 tend to. impede free flow of fluidthrough devices for imparting; or receiving motion to or from the fluidpassing therethrough.

More specifically stated, it is the object of this invention to providea runner or rotor having an 20 axially disposed inlet almost equal indiameter to the entire rotor and an outlet at least as great inarea'asthe inlet, the said rotor being so designed as to provide amultiplicity of passages between the inlet and outlet, each adapted toreceive fluid from a particular sub-divided portion of the fluid streamentering the inlet.

One of the desirable objectives of the construction herein disclosed isthe provision of a device which, when operated as a fluid impeller, 30will draw fluid from an area almost equal to the area which it occupies,the suction or partial vacuum created in the operation of the devicebeing approximately equal throughout said area.

By reason of this feature the device is peculiarly 35 adapted for use asa propeller, and some forms of the invention are calculated to deliverthe fluid in a direction partially or entirely axial, whereby tobe'efiicient in transforming rotative to axial motion. v

40 It is a further object of the invention to provide a device in whichthe axial and radial forces developed in the operation of the device maybe substantially neutralized whereby to eliminate thrust on the drivingshaft.

45 A device made in' accordance with this invention is useful for somepurposes when operating unenclosed, and for other purposes itshould beencased. For the latter purposes, it isone of the objects to provide anorganization in which fluid 50 admitted to a casing, housing a runnerand made in accordance with this invention, will follow more or lesssmoothly a predetermined helical spiral path from the inlet to thedischarge port of the casing without any abrupt change in direction, andwithout encountering any surfaces or obstructions such as might tend tocreate substantial eddy currents or otherresistance factors.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view partially inside elevation and partially in axialsection, showing a rotor or runner device embodying the presentinvention.

"Figure 2 is a front elevation of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view partially in side elevation andpartially in axialsection, showing a modified embodiment of a rotor or runner deviceincorporating the invention. v

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing a further modification.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view in perspective, of a singleplate employed in the device shown in Figures 1 and 2, showing thearrangement whereby-a spacer is embossed from said plate.

Figure. 6 is a detail view on a reduced scale showing the application ofa specialized form of flat impeller embodying the invention to a motorarmature shaft for use as a fan, the device being organized to balance.or neutralize all forces to which the armature shaft is subject.

Figure '7 is a detail view in axial section through a fluid impellingdevice embodyingthe invention and including a runner somewhat similar tothat shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 8 is a frontelevation of the device shown s in Figure 7, aportion of casing being broken away to expose the face of the runner orrotor.

Figure 9 is a front elevation of a modified form of rotor employingspokes to support each annulus directly from the shaft.

Like parts areidentified by the same reference characters throughout theseveral views.

The rotor or runner .shown in Figs. 1 and 2 includes amounting plate i0carried bya shaft H. This plate preferably comprises a solid orimperforate disk to which are secured by bolts 5 I2 a. number of annularplates l5 which have internal openings of progressivelyincreasing-diameter, the said annular plates being spaced from eachother as shown, to provide narrow circumferential slot-like passages forthe discharge of fluid. The means whereby the plates are spaced fromeach other may conveniently comprise integrally embossed portions l6 ofthe plates, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the spacing bosses beingpreferably stream lined in the direction of fluid I delivery so as toinvolve minimum interference with the smoothness of fluid discharge. Theembossed spacing portions I5 of the plates are apertured to receive themounting bolts I2.

The resulting runner or rotor has an inlet opening almost as large indiameter as the full diameter of the rotor, the last plate I5 in theseries preferably having very little radial extent, as shown in Fig. 2.The successively decreasing radii of the openings of successive platesin the series leading toward the mounting plate I0 give the inlet theappearance of a conical inlet.

When the device is rotated, the centrifugal force developed in the fluidcontained in the channels between the plates I5 and plate I0 will causeall such fluid to flow toward the periphery of the several plates whereit will be discharged uniformly in all directions. The fluid thusdischarged will be replaced by other fluid moving into the conicalinlet, sub-divided by the several plates, and similarly discharged fromthe periphery.

The capacity of each of the radial discharge passages betweenconsecutive plates of the series will. preferably be so chosen withreference to the differential. area between consecutive plates at eitherside of the passage that the several passages will handle substantiallyalike the annular column of fluid which encounters the exposed annularsurface of the plate bounding the passage at its inner side. In otherwords, the flow will be uniform or substantially uniform across theentire diameter of the inlet, the incoming fluid being in effectsub-divided by the inner margins of the several annuli into concentrictubular columns of fluid, each of which in turn will encounter aparticular annulus adjacent its inner margins, and will flow radiallyacross the face of such annulus to the constricted annular space ordischarge passage to the point of delivery. No vanes need be used in adevice of this kind, the friction of the fluid on the surfaces of theplates being relied upon to ensure its centrifugal discharge.

While planiform plates have been shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it will beobvious to those skilled in the art that they may be made conical, as

shown at I50 in Fig. 3. In the Fig. 3 construction the direction ofdischarge is somewhat toward the rear of the impeller.

plates might be unduly restricted if all the plates had a like radialextent.

also be used for -many other purposes. greater number of plates abovethe mounting- In Fig. 6 is shown a construction in which the annularplates I5 above the mounting plate II) are duplicated by a lesser numberof plates I5 below the mounting plate I0. The shaft II in this instanceis disposed vertically and comprises the armature shaft of a motor I8."Such a device is highly useful as a table fan, andmay plate creates agreater vacuum above the rotor than that which exists beneath it, thedifferential being so workedout as to provide a force' which, in thenormal operation of the mechanism, will substantially equal the weightof the .tial fluid admission 13011; 23.

The

The construction shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is,

particularly designed for use as a pump. At relatively heavy mountingplate III] is employed on the drive shaft III which turns in suitablebearings provided in casing I9. The removable closure 20 attherear ofthe casing is recessed to receive the impeller mounting plate III], anda similar recess in casing I9 receives the outer annulus 2| of theseries carried by the plate IIII. The intermediate annuli I5 areidentical with those disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2.

The spacing between the annuli, however, has been graduated to exemplifyanother aspect of the invention, the plates having the largest openingsbeing spaced farther apart than the plates at the other ends of theseries where the central openings are small. This feature is ofassistance suction at the center. Within limits, the closer the platesare fixed with reference to each other, the greater will be theirfrictional action on the fluid, and hence the greater will be thesuction produced. There will be a natural tendency for I the flow to beuniform throughout all parts of allof the devices disclosed herein, andthe present embodiment showing a difference in spacing between plates isillustrative of means which may -be employed to correct any differencein-flow which may be observed in a particular installation.

The casing I9 provides two annular chambers 22 and 25. The former is inregistry with the inlet of the rotor or impeller and has a tangen- Thedischarge chamber 25 is concentric with and disposed about the peripheryof the runner or impeller,

and has a tangential .outlet at 2 extending in the same direction inwhich fluid is traveling when admitted to the casing through port 23.

The arrangement disclosed is such that fluid is at no time subjected toany sudden change of direction in traversing the device. It is given a.helical movement in chamber 22-\,by the annular form of the chamber andby the disposition of the tangential admission port 23. It continuesthis helical movement in a spiral direction through the impeller andcontinues to rotate in chamber 25 toward the point of tangentialdischarge at 24.

The construction of the rotor shown in Figs. 9 and 10 is essentiallysimilar to those previously disclosed herein with the single exceptionthat the annuli I55, instead of being carried by a -mounting plate, areprovided with spokes I58 and hub portions I51, and stamped integrallytherewith, the latter being preferably provided with integralkey'tongues I58 for mounting directly upon the splined shaft 2. Thethinness of the spokes minimizes their interference with fluid enteringthe rotor through the graduated central apertures of its successiveannuli.

Figure 11 illustrates a preferred application of the invention forpropulsion of any device 2,087,884 through a fluid. The fact thattheopening in the impeller is almost as large as the diameter of thepropeller makes the device peculiarly useful as a propeller because itacts on almost all of the fluid which it displaces in its movement. Thepropulsion installation shown in Fig. 11 is adaptable for use inairships, submarines, torpedoes, outboard motors, and other bodiesdesigned for movement through air, water or other fluids.

The body 30 to be propelled is preferably stream lined to present atorpedo contour with a fairly blunt nose as shown. An axially extendingpower shaft 3| drives an impeller unit 32 which may be exactly likethose shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or like those shown in Fig. 3 or 10. Thedischarge from the impeller 32 is received into an annular space 33between the outer surface 34 of body 30, and a correspondingly formedconical shell 35 spaced from the body by webs 36.

The suction produced at the inlet of impeller 32 upon rotation of shaft3| has a very powerful propulsive effect on body 30, tending to move thebody axially to the right as viewed in Fig. 11. A very substantialadditional propulsive effect is created by the discharge of the fluidagainst shell 35 which turns the fluid rearwardly and receives areactive force tending to propel body 30 toward the right as viewed inFig. 11.

The fluid leaving shell 35 and passing outwardly across surface 34 ofbody 30 tends to follow a rectilinear path from which surface 34deviates. Thus a partial vacuum is produced on surface 34 similar tothat which is produced on the upper surface of an aerofoil in the flightof an airplane. This vacuum also is the cause of a tendency of body 30to be propelled to the right as viewed in Fig. 11. Thus, in the Fig. 11construction, the impeller, its casing and the form of the body withwhich the impeller and casing are used, are all co-operative to producea propulsive effect on such body.

Devices of the character disclosed have been demonstrated to beremarkable in their efliciency because of the efiiciency of theimpeller, which, whether cased or operating in free space, is adapted tohandle without loss of power an extremely large volume of fluid inproportion to its overall dimensions.

The various embodiments of the invention selected for illustrationherein, are intended merely to exemplify a few of the many possiblevariations to which the invention is adapted. In each of the many fieldsin which the device is used there will necessarily be some adaptation ofits form. Among the uses to which the device may be adapted it may bementioned; that it is suitable for use as a fan in propulsion of gaseousor liquid fluids; for use as a propeller operating either in gaseous orliquid fluids for the propulsion of air, land or'water vehicles; for useas a pump for fluids of all kinds; for.use in creating partial vacuums;for use in picking up and distributing light solids such as dust andflour, and for use in the circulation of fluids where no defi nite pathof circulation is indicated, as for example, in circulating the air in aroom without substantial draft.

The deviceherein disclosed is not only simple in construction andinexpensive to manufacture,

be designed in advance to consume any given quantity of power at anygiven speed of operation. Unlike an ordinary propeller or pump, it doesnot require operation at relatively low speeds-to maintain itsefficiency. It will-operate efficiently evenat the highest speeds atwhich a steam turbine or electric motor may be driven. Thus, the use ofreduction gearing is made unnecessary and the full power of high speedturbines or driving motors may be consumed efficiently in a direct driveinstallation.

We claim:

1. An impeller comprising the combination with rotatable mounting means,of means providing fluid passages opening axially in opposite directionsand discharging peripherally, said passages having a differentialcapacity such that the reaction toward fluid admitted thereto willoppose the action of gravity on the impeller when the axis of rotationthereof is vertical.

- 2. In a device of the character described, a balanced rotor comprisinga vertical shaft, a series of mutually spaced annuli having openings oflarge diameter at each end of the series, and openings of progressivelydecreasing diameter in successive annuli toward a point intermediate theends of the series, and means for supporting the several annuli from theshaft, the fluid handling capacity of the annuli below the point ofminimum cross section of opening being less than the capacity of theannuli above said point by an amount in such proportion to' the desiredspeed of operation of the annuli that the differential reaction of fluidmoving toward said point from the top and the bottom of the series ofplates is approximately equal and opposite to the force exerted bygravity on said shaft.

3. In a device of the character described, the

combination with a vertical shaft and a mount plates mutually spaced andhaving openings progressively increasing in diameter from a pointintermediate the ends of said series of plates toward both ends thereof,said point being nearer the lower end of the series than the top endthereof, whereby'to establish a differential suction at the ends of theseries tending to balance the weightofsaid shaft and plates.

'4. In a device of the character described, the combination with avertical shaft, of a rotor arranged for discharge substantiallythroughout its" periphery, said rotor comprising a series of annuli, andmeans supporting said annuli fromsaid shaft, said,annuli having centralopenings progressively increasing in diameter toward the ends of saidseries from a point intermediate such ends, the fluid impelling capacityof the annuli above said point being in excess of the fluid impellingcapacity of the annuli below said point, whereby to tend to balance theweight of said annuli and shaft, and radial forces to which said rotoris subjected by the reaction of the fluid impelled being substantiallybalanced.

5. Iri a device of the character described, a casing havingsubstantially co-axial and substantially circular chambers providedrespectively with tangential inlet and outlet passages opening directlythereto, the outer wall of each such passage being substantially flushwith the periphery of the chamber with which it communicates, saidcasing providing an annular space affording communication between theouter periphery of the inner chamber and the inner periphery of theouter chamber, and a rotor arranged to revolve in said space andprovided with tion in which fluid rotates in both of said chambers inaccordance with the direction of its tan- ,5 gential delivery into thefirst of said chambers and discharge from the second.

6. A device of the character described, comprising the combination witha casing providing an annular inlet chamber, a co-axial discharge 10chamber of larger diameter, said chamber being substantially circular,an annular space aflording communication between said chambers, of inletand outlet ducts disposed tangentially with re-' spect to the respectivechambers, whereby to in- 15 duce circumferential flow of a fluid in thesame direction throughout both said chambers, and a rotor comprisingspaced annuli mounted in the annular passage between said chambers andpro- 'vided with central openings communicating with 20 the inletchamber and radial discharge passages communicating with the dischargechamber, said rotor being-arranged to rotate in the said direction ofcircumferential fluid travel in said chamhers. a

25 7. In a device of the character described, a casing provided withaxially ofiset annular inlet and outlet chambers having substantiallycircular out-' er peripheries concentrically arranged and of difierentdiameters, tangential inlet and outlet 30 ducts leading to and from therespective chambers and so disposed as to accommodate fluid rotatingcontinuously in the samedirection, an annular passage leading directlyfrom the largest diameter of the smaller chamber to the smallest 35diameter of the larger chamber, and a rotor positioned between saidchambers in said passage and afiording communication therebetween, saidrotor comprising annuli of progressively decreasing opening across theend of the smaller chamber,

40' and means connecting said annuli in mutually spaced relation, theannulus with the largest opening being presented to the inlet chamberand the spaces between said annuli being arranged to discharge directlyinto the outlet cham- 45 her.

' 8. In a deviceof the character described, the combination with acasing having concentric 'annular chambers of difierent diameters havingsubstantially circular outer peripheral walls and fio -being in axiallyoffset relation, a shaft extending axially to said casing, and a rotormounted on said shaft and affording communication between said chambers,said rotor comprising a series of mutually spaced annuli, the internaldi- 55 ameter of the annulus next to the smaller chambereinglsubstantlally equal to the maximum iameter of said chamber-anddirectly communieating therewith and the spaces between said annulibeing arranged to discharge into the larger 60 chamber, the openings inthe-respective annuli being progressively decreased in diameter inaccordance with their remoteness from the smaller chamber,themespectivegchambers having inlet and outlet ducts disposedtangentially to receive 65 and discharge a fluid revolving in saidchambers in the direction of rotation of said annuli.

9. The combination with a body requiring pro.- pulsion and having agenerally conical bow, of'a propelling rotor mounted to turn thereon inad- 70 vance of said body and comprising spaced annular platesarrangedto receive fluid from the path of advance of said body todischarge such fluid peripherally,

10. The combination with a body requiring pro- 75 pulsion'and having agenerally conical bow, of a propelling rotor mounted to turn thereon inadvance of said body and comprising spaced annular plates arranged toreceive fluid from the path of advance of said body to discharge suchfluid peripherally, together with a deflecting 5 apron arranged aboutsaid rotor in spaced relation to said body and positioned to deflectrearwardly the fluid discharged peripherally from said rotor.

11. The combination with a body requiring propulsion, of a propellingrotor mounted to-turn I thereon in advance, of said body and comprisingspaced annular plates arranged to receive fluid from the path of advanceof said body .to discharge sucfi fluid peripherally, together'with adeflecting apron arranged about said rotor in spaced relation to saidbody and positioned to deflect rearwardly the fluid dischargedperipherally from said rotor, said body having a stream line formdeviating from the path of discharge of fluid, whereby to receivepropulsive movement occasioned by the void created by the discharge ofsuch fluid.

12. In a device of the character described, the

combination with a runner having fluid engaging portions, of a casingproviding: a passage within which said portions are disposed, a firstchamber of circular cross-section and elongated form opening at one endto said passage and provided adjacent the other end with a tangentialport opening directly to said chamber with its outer wall substantiallyflush with the periphery of said chamber, and a second chamber ofsubstantially annular form with the inner periphery of whichsubstantially all portions of said passage communicate and which isprovided with a tangential port disposed in a direction complementary tothat of the first port, whereby fluid entering through one of said portswill rotate continuously in one direction in traversing said casing. 40

13. In a device of the character described, the combination with achamber of circular crosssection and elongated form having a tangentialport adjacent one end and being open at the other end, of a rotordisposed at the open end of said chamber and comprising a series of,friction plates spaced in suiiiciently close proximity to propel a fluidindependently of vanes, the plate immediately adjacent said chamberhaving an aperture substantially identical in diameter with the diameterof said chamber and successive plates having apertures of successivelyreduced diameter, and means supporting said plates for rotation in thedirection of rotation accommodated by said tangential port. 14. In adevice of the character described, the combination with a chamber ofcircular crosssection and elongated form having a tangential portadjacent one end and being open at the other end, of a rotor disposed atthe open end of said chamber and comprising a series of friction platesspaced in sufflciently close proximity to propel a fluid independentlyof vanes, the plate immediately adjacent said chamber having an aperturesubstantially identical in diameter with the diameter of said chamberand successiveplates having apertures of successively reduced diameter,and. means supporting said plates for rotation in the direction ofrotation accommodated by said tangential port, the spacing be mutuallyspaced annular plates in sumciently close proximity to propel a fluidindependently of vanes, the spacing between said plates beingprogressively decreased and said-plates having apertures progressivelydecreasing in diameter throughout the series and communicating withsuccessive diminishing'spaces between the plates, the fluid handlingcapacity of the spaces between the plates and the successive aperturesbeing so chosen that theinter-plate space just beyond each aperturehas aflow capacity substantially equal to the difference in capacity betweenthat aperture and the next aperture of the series,

whereby the fluid handled is acted upon substantially without eddycurrents.

16. In a device of the character described, a

rotor for fluid actuation comprising the com-.

sively decrease in area in the entrance direction of air from an end ofthe series at which air is admitted, whereby said plates perform thedual function of propulsion and fluid proportioning.

17. In a device of the-character described, the combination with ashaft, of a rotor arranged to discharge substantially unimpededthroughout its periphery, said rotor having annular plates in closeproximity to each other with axially aligned central openingsprogressively decreasing in diameter from the end at which air isadmitted to the series of plates toward the other, saidopeningscommunicating with the spaces between plates, andthe plates beingsufficiently close to comprise substantially the sole propelling mediumof fluid engaged thereby, and means supporting the plates from the shaftand including spacers disposed with their greatest length in line withthe path of fluid flow whereby to pass fluid without substantialreaction thereon and without the creation of eddy currents, whereby saidspaced plates, perform-the dual function of a propulsion means and afluid proportioning means'without any substantial loss of energy ininduced eddy currents.

18. The combination with a body having a convex bow portion laterallystreamlined toward its forward end, a drive shaft projecting forwardlyfrom said end, a propelling rotor mounted on said shaft inadvance of thebody and comprising spaced annular plates substantially co-extensivewith said end and arranged to receive fluid from the path of. advance ofsaid body and to discharge such fluid peripherally, and an apron havingits forward portion apertured to fit substantially about one of theforemost of said plates and extending thence in streamlined contour inspaced relation to the streamlined sides of said body.

'19. The combination with a body requiring propulsion and having a bowportion convexly formed to provide streamline surfaces terminating at ablunt nose, of a propelling rotor mounted in close proximity to saidnose with itsperiphery arranged to discharge at said convex surfaces,said rotor comprising axially spaced annular plates having respectivecentral openings progressively decreasing in size from the foremost ofsaid plates toward the rearmost thereof, and an apron having meansconnecting it in spaced relation to said body to receive the peripheraldischarge. from said rotor and to guide such discharge rearwardly aboutthe 'convex surfaces thereof, the forward margin of said apron being inclose proximity to the foremost plate, and the rear margin of said apronbeing disposed somewhat rearwardly of the rearmost plate, the exteriorof said apron being likewise of streamline form.

CHESTER W. BROWN. ERWIN F. DOSIE.

